If the killing of Osama bin Laden teaches us anything, it illuminates the true distinction between force and power. Force is charging against your enemy; Power, on the other hand, is more delicate to handle.

I've studied history's most creative strategists—from Napoleon Bonaparte to John Boyd—and compared their thinking habits with those of their modern peers—Grameen Bank founder Mohammad Yunus or Tesla CEO Elon Musk. I have found five thinking habits that stand out.

In his recent post, "Design is Too Important to be Left to Thinkers," Robert Brunner made a good point about how every Tom, Dick, corporate strategist, and engineer is now calling himself a "design thinker." This issue needs a deeper look.